Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 35, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 22-26

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in South Western Sydney: Evaluation of the country of birth method using maternal seroprevalence data (Article)

Turnour C.E.* , Cretikos M.A. , Conaty S.J.
  • a Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia, Public Health Officer Training Program, New South Wales Department of Health, Australia, Centre for Aboriginal Health, NSW Department of Health, Locked Mail Bag 961, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia
  • b Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and evaluate the country of birth (Census) method of describing hepatitis B distribution in an Australian health service with a large migrant population. Methods: The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS, population 1.3 million) was estimated by applying the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in high or intermediate hepatitis B prevalence countries to SSWAHS residents from those countries, using 2006 Census data. The Australian hepatitis B prevalence (0.7%) was applied to the remainder. This method was validated using HBsAg seroprevalence in 42,274 women aged 15-44 years who delivered at SSWAHS public maternity hospitals during 2007 to 2009. Results: The SSWAHS prevalence of HBsAg using the Census method was 2.0% for all ages and 2.3% for 15-44 year old women. The seroprevalence in 15-44 year old mothers was 1.8%. The adjusted population prevalence was 1.6%. The two methods produced broadly similar descriptions of relative hepatitis B burden by local government area and country of birth. Conclusion: The Census method overestimates the prevalence of hepatitis B infection by 30%, but produces similar patterns of hepatitis B burden across the area. Health services can estimate the prevalence and distribution of chronic hepatitis B using readily available data to focus delivery of prevention and treatment services. © 2011 Public Health Association of Australia.

Author Keywords

emigrants and immigrants Australia Hepatitis B Public health Chronic Prevalence Validation studies

Index Keywords

evaluation birth Registries Australia register human epidemiology sex difference middle aged statistics Population Groups Aged ethnology ethnic and racial groups Young Adult Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants female preschool child Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool reproducibility newborn Reproducibility of Results population research immunology prevalence Article adult Hepatitis B, Chronic migration age Sex Factors Age Factors Censuses hepatitis B surface antigen Parturition Hepatitis B Surface Antigens hepatitis B Seroepidemiologic Studies Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79953831364&doi=10.1111%2fj.1753-6405.2010.00657.x&partnerID=40&md5=32cf6b480a316a0c7e9c87e5dadd8576
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00657.x
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English